Principle of Confronting Oppressors
part 3
The Holy Qur'an called all the Muslims to legitimate defense and fighting against despotism and aggression and emphasized on it. Imam Khomeini (R.A) says in this regard:
Anyone who is a little familiar with the logic of the Holy Qur'an will realize that it made the Noble Prophet constantly fight with capitalists, with those that were in Hijaz and Ta'if and Mecca. They were capitalists and powerful and tyrants. It was the Qur'an that decreed the Noble Prophet to fight those who were against the nationality of the people and their interests to reach realignment.
The people of Mecca were all rich and powerful and saw the growth of the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) as a danger to themselves. This is why they were against him. The idols were just instruments. They did not believe in the idols, they just feared for their interests in face of the Noble Prophet.
Defending ones humanistic and religious dignity is necessary, that is why God has introduced the concept of Jihad and war and said if the boundaries are not defended, declination will rule over. War and Jihad in Islam is for the purpose of removing aggression and tyranny. As God says:
“And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits. Surely, Allah does not love the transgressors.”
The armed defensive encounters of the Noble Prophet against the aggressors were carried out based on this viewpoint. As Imam Khomeini (R.A) puts it:
“The Noble Prophet had no intention of removing all the disbelievers from Mecca or the Arabian Peninsula; he wanted Islam to grow and the government to become a government of the Qur'an and Islam. As they prevented this goal his efforts ended up in war and they fought with the Islamic government. All the battles or expeditions in which the Noble Prophet took part were only for removing the obstacles on the road to reaching the divine goal which was establishment of an Islamic government, the government of Allah, the government of Qur'an for all. All the battles in Islam were for building the society and stopping those who wanted to prevent this trend. The battle in Islam is not an issue or a plan.
“None of the armed encounters in Islam were based on expansionism, aggression or despotism. So in the conduct of Prophet Muhammad and Imam 'Ali (A.S) and the other 11 Infallible Imams we never see power seeking and the wars all happened for acting upon their duty which was establishing the Islamic government.”
Islam is thus the religion of peace and tranquility and never allows power seeking and tyranny and aggression to his followers. At the same time, it calls for resistance against aggression and introduces it as the noblest religious and humane act.
Source:
Behavior and Character of the Holy Prophet of Islam from Imam Khomeini's Viewpoint
Written By: Mostafa Dilshad Tehrani
Translator: Ali Shahbaz
Other Links:
Principle of Care for the Oppressed (part 1)
Principle of Care for the Oppressed (part 2)
